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Wisdom yet to dawn on library
Anupam Bhagria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Ever heard of a library stocked with only piles of newspapers and no books? Peep into the basement of the District Public Relations Department and you will get to know how a neglected news media morgue looks like.

The library has turned into a storeroom, courtesy apathy of the Punjab government.

Darshan Singh, former District Public Relations Officer, said, “People would come to the library and spend hours there. Now, things are different. The place looks like a junk yard.”

A former official of the administration said, “Rainwater entered the basement and all books and magazines were spoiled.”

Staff shortage is also plaguing the department. A government employee said, “The basement was submerged. We had a tough time draining out water. All books and magazines were damaged. Slowly and gradually, things worsened. We stopped getting books and magazines. Most of the employees retired. There was nobody to take care of the library. Now, only newspapers are stacked at the library.”

A Class IV employee, who was piling up the newspapers, said, “We are no longer supplied books or magazines. The authorities should do something about it. The library needs to be renovated. Visitors avoid passing the area as it stinks.”

“During the rainy season, snakes are a common sight in the corridor. Loose electricity wires are a threat,” an employee said.

Sources said Khanna, Samral and Jagraon too had information centres long back, but due to staff shortage, these were closed down.

Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, said, “I did not know that the library was in such a pitiable condition. I will look into the matter and do the needful.”

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Man killed in road accident
Tribune Reporters

Khanna, August 11
One person was killed while five others suffered injuries after the car they were travelling in hit a truck at Khanna. The deceased was identified as Satish Kumar (55), a resident of Delhi.

The family was going to Amritsar. On reaching Khanna, the driver of the car in a bid to overtake a vehicle collided the truck. The injured, Rashi Rani (38) Santosh Rani (43), Madhu (36), Avninder (52) and Gaurav (35) were rushed to the Civil Hospital. Their condition is stated to be critical. One-year-old boy, who was also in the car, had a miraculous escape. Investigating officer Gurcharan Singh said a probe was on.

Suicide victim’s kin want SIT to probe case

Ludhiana: The parents of Shina, who committed suicide on the intervening night of August 5 and 6 at Tibba Road, along with activists of the Universal Human Rights Organisation, met Nilambari Jagdale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, urging him to constitute to a special investigation team.

Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, president, Universal Human Rights Organisation, said the official assured them of forming the special investigation team.

Dhaliwal alleged that the Dugri police were shielding the accused, Rupinder Singh Sheela, a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) worker.

He said Sheela was having an affair with the girl. Rupinder gave her false assurances of marriage and physically exploited her, he added.

Rupinder Singh dumped Shina and tied the knot with some other girl three months ago. When Shina learnt about his marriage, she went to meet him at his place on August 3.

Dhaliwal said instead of pacifying the victim, Sheela and his family members humiliated her. “Sheela called the police and the girl was taken to the police station. Shina was shattered and slipped into depression. She committed suicide by hanging herself,” he alleged.

“The role of the Dugri police should also be investigated,” demanded Dhaliwal

Woman dies after eating ‘jalebis’

Eating “jalebis” cost a 20-year-old woman her life. The deceased, identified as Kajol, and her husband, Sham Kewal, did not know that the Raksha Bandhan celebrations would turn sour.

Kajol’s brother Uday Raj said one Prem Kumar visited the couple and offered them “jalebis”.

The couple was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where Kajol died while the condition of her husband is stated to be critical.

Prem Kumar was also admitted to the hospital.

He was discharged later on. Rajwant Singh, in-charge, Jankapuri police post, said, “We are awaiting the post-mortem report.”

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Power engineers get a rude shock
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, August 11
Even as a meeting of power engineers is slated to be held with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 13 to sort out pending issues, including violation of tripartite agreement, the PSEB Engineers Association (PSEBA) today held protest meetings at all circle headquarters in the state against the repressive attitude of the management of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.

The engineers may resume their agitation from August 15. Giving details after an emergent meeting of the state executive of the body held in Patiala, the president of the PSEBA, Baldev Singh Sran, said resentment prevailed among the engineers over the indifferent attitude of the PSPCL management and the Punjab government.

“At the meeting, the engineers expressed their displeasure over repeated postponement of the meeting with Sukhbir Badal, who holds the power portfolio, while the PSPCL management is also giving a cold shoulder to the engineers,” he said.

GPMS Sidhu, Regional Secretary, Ludhiana region of PSEBA, said the engineers’ body expressed its anguish and condemned the biased and partisan attitude of the authorities. Members of the association said issues related to power engineers were kept pending despite a written agreement to resolve the issues in a time-bound manner. “As if to further vitiate the industrial peace, the management is bending service rules to give benefit to other cadres at the cost of power engineers by amending the service regulations in gross violation of the tripartite agreement,” the meeting noted. The PSEBA said there was acute shortage of staff in the field which was adversely affecting the consumer services, and the management, instead of finding the solution to the problem, was issuing chargesheets to the field engineers on trivial issues.

It also held the PSPCL management responsible for the mess which led to the short supply of coal by PANEM to the state-owned thermal plants from its own captive coal mine. The meeting observed that rather than resorting to in-house reform initiatives, unscrupulous middlemen were being invited through reckless outsourcing, which was being considered as panacea for all the ills.

Testing times
PSEB engineers said staff shortage was affecting the consumer services and the management, instead of finding a solution to the problem, was issuing chargesheets to field engineers.

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Riot victims
Justice delayed means justice denied: Phoolka
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Senior advocate and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka has accused the SAD of ignoring the 1984-riot victims.

In a letter written to the Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Phoolka stated: “It appears that the SAD has forgotten the issue of November 1984. The NDA government, in which the SAD is also a part, has been in power since May. But not even a single step has been taken in securing justice for the victims and punishing the guilty.” Phoolka’s letter read: “Daman Singh, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s daughter, has claimed that Manmohan Singh’s house was also attacked by an angry mob in November 1984 at the Ashok Vihar area of Delhi. In the Ashok Vihar area, some of the victims had named the then Congress councillor as the leader of the mob, wrote Phoolka. “But no one has been punished and the cases were closed as untraced.” Phoolka, in the letter, has accused the NDA government of stalling the formation of a special investigation team (SIT). “The incident is 30 years old. Some of the victims are no longer alive while other victims are getting old. Immediate steps are required to be taken to record the statements of the witnesses,” said Phoolka in his letter addressed to Badal.

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For them, the cake’s not worth the candle
Tribune News Service

As International Youth Day is celebrated, we gauge the leanings and moods of city youngsters to where they are headed and how much they value the freedom struggle and realise the value of freedom in view of the 68th Independence Day.

Many schoolchildren just laugh away ‘deshbhakti’. After a question on Independence Day, when asked why Republic Day was celebrated, all of them drew a blank. None was clear about why Republic Day is celebrated. “Something happened in 1950, but I don’t know what exactly,” another youngster said. Many answered that they had read BC Chatterji, but were not sure whether he had written the National Song or the Anthem. One of them said the National Song is “Saare Jahan Se Accha”.

Blank faces, looking at one another curiously was the answer to “who authored the National Anthem? Questions related to the National Emblem met with similar responses. Although many of them were aware of television programme Satyamev Jayate, they had no clue about its importance. Rose is the National Flower, if you go by a couple of youngsters. When asked about the Fundamental Rights and Duties, most of the students did not mention more than two or three.

Not many youngsters would go beyond naming Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev as freedom fighters. Although most of the schoolchildren were able to recite the National Anthem, only a couple of college students were able to recite it.

It seems that most of the youth these days is too preoccupied with the information they receive on social networking sites and too busy with things of fickle value, but not of national or constructive value.

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Security beefed up ahead of I-Day
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 11
The police has beefed up security ahead of the Independence Day.

Assistant Police Commissioner Gill Gupreet Singh Sikand, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amargarh, Gurmit Singh; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Payal, Balwinder Singh Bhikhi; and the Circle Officer at Raikot claimed that they have enhanced the vigil in and around the venues of the Independence Day celebrations, educational institutes and busy markets of their respective regions.

Specially constituted anti-sabotage teams have been directed to enhance vigil near scheduled venues of celebrations, besides undertaking combing operations, to keep a vigil on strangers and anti-social elements who might slip into the area under the garb of visitors and relatives of residents.

Besides enhancing the night vigil, the police have installed special checkpoints and intensified patrolling throughout the area.

Teams of police personnel, supervised by Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO, Dehlon; Harwinder Pal Singh SHO, Sadar; and Tejinder Singh, SHO, City, undertook combing operations in localities situated under their jurisdiction last night.

Maintaining that the exercise was done to boost the morale of residents and ensure their safety during the celebrations, Gurpreet Singh Sikand and Balwinder Singh Bhikhi said beat officers had been directed to ensure that no stranger sneaks into the area under the guise of a relative or a friend of a resident.

The decision to beef up the security was taken during meetings chaired by the Police Commissioner, Ludhiana; Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna; Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, and SSP, Ludhiana (Rural), recently. The police chiefs had directed the officials to deal strictly with miscreants.

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Health officials destroy rotten fruits, vegetables
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 11
To prevent the outbreak of diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis and other stomach-related ailments prevalent in the rainy season, Health Department teams destroyed huge quantities of rotten fruits and vegetables at different places in the region.

Following the directions of the Civil Surgeons at Ludhiana and Sangrur, teams of the department visited areas like main markets at local towns and surrounding localities, including Malaudh, Kup, Dehlon and Sihar and destroyed rotten fruits and vegetables being sold on rehris.

Majority of fruit and vegetable vendors were found ignorant about directions of the department regarding storage and sale of perishable food items.

Bananas were among fruits destroyed by the teams. The team also instructed the rehri owners to sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

Health officer Dr Rajesh Garg and Dr Sukhjinder Singh, SMO, Malaudh, appealed to people to save themselves from different diseases in this season. One should always eat fresh and hot food, drink clean water or water should be consumed after boiling and cooling it down.

They also appealed to people to keep their surrounding areas clean and wash hands before consuming anything.

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Serving sweets to guests at bhog ceremonies to attract fine of Rs 10K
Our Correspondent

Raikot, August 11
Any family serving sweets to guests attending bhog ceremonies of deceased members of their clans, would be imposed a fine of Rs 10,000.

The decision was taken by residents of Buraj Hakiman village, led by office-bearers of the local civic body.

The decision has come as a respite for middle class and poor families who had to spend thousands on rituals and functions following the death of elderly members of their family.

Office-bearers of various social and religious organisations of the village, led by sarpanch Jagdeesh Singh Grewal, said the decision to bring some social reforms was taken unanimously during a meeting of residents held recently.

It was observed that rich and prosperous families had been spending lavishly on functions being organised after the death of elderly members of their clans.

As it had become a routine affair to serve and distribute sweets among relatives and guests during bhog ceremonies of elderly persons, poor and middle class families had to purchase materials on credit for the same.

The tendency resulted in a situation wherein a large number of poor families had become debt-ridden, affecting the overall development and study of children belonging to such families.

Taking cognisance of the situation, office-bearers of social, religious and constitutional bodies launched a social reform and it was decided unanimously to ban activities that encouraged wastage of food items and resources. Donations and gifts normally presented by the family of the deceased on such occasions, cannot be announced publicly, it was decided.

It was decided that a fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed upon families ignoring the decision.

Panches Hardeep Singh Gill, Gurmit Singh, Ujjagar Singh, Paramjit Kaur and Sarabjit Kaur led the residents of their respective wards during the meeting.

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Programme to develop scientific temper among youth launched

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 11
The National Council for Science and Technology Communication has launched a programme to develop scientific temper among young minds and create reservoir of potential ideas.

A three-week special internship programme will be held at the Pushpa Gujral Science City, where selected budding scientists from schools of the state would be transforming their ideas into innovations under guidance of senior scientists of the Science City.

Heads of government and private aided schools have been asked to depute science teachers of their respective institutes to guide their students for preparing profile of their ideas and send their applications to the PGSC, Kapurthala, by August 14.

Perusal of a letter written by the director-general (school education) GK Singh to district education officers and heads of schools of the region, revealed that the PGSC and NCSTS had joined hands to organise special programme for discovering hidden talent amongst potential young innovators.

Under the Regional Incubation Science Hubs For Innovators (RISHI ) project, students of Classes IX to XI had been invited to transform their original ideas to innovations during an internship of three weeks duration likely to commence on September 26.

Final selection of participants will be made after presentation of their ideas before a panel of experts at PGSC, Kapurthala, on August 30.

With last date for submission of application fast approaching science teachers of various schools have started persuading their students to come up with plausible ideas.

Balwinder Singh Grewal and Gurmit Singh, lecturers in physics, said they had sought permission to hold intra-school competitions for selection of competent candidates for the programme.

“After receiving ideas, we have to check originality of the ideas and help students in preparing profile,” they said. — OC

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Former DSGMC chief holds press meet
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee former president Harvinder Singh Sarna held a press conference today.

He alleged that though the meetings were underway to resolve the issue of separate gurdwara management committee for Haryana amicably, it has reached the Supreme Court only because of the lack of sincerity of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

He alleged that the meetings on the issue had been held on August 3 in Yamuna Nagar in which Paramjit Singh Sarna and Harvinder Singh Sarna had been asked to mediate and such a meeting was held on August 9 in Chandigarh as well, but due to the lack of sincerity of the Akalis to resolve the issue, it has reached the apex court.

He added that this was a political issue and the Akal Takht Jathedar should not have interfered in the issue.

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Better Ludhiana encroachments
Encroachments scar rosy picture of city
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Residents suffer due to encroachments. Not only do they present a shoddy picture of the city, but also constrict the road space. Parking of vehicles and crowd around the roadside vendors make things worse. The paucity of road space and the chaos are the outcome of the increased encroachments in the city.

Residents speak their mind regarding the issue.

Street Vendors Act must be implemented immediately

Although Street Vendors Act was made in the month of May, but there seems to be no impact of it on Ludhiana residents. There is a dire need to implement the act with a sense of urgency and immediacy. This will help the city become clean and make it more organised. The civic body must strategise and implement it at the earliest. Anti- encroachments drives should be made more effective.

Jaivijay Singh, a political activist

Civic body must tighten its noose around defaulters

I think the only solution to the problem of encroachments is initiating a strict action against the defaulters by the MC. The civic body must hand out challans that are of a higher account. Lack of discipline should not be tolerated by any means. The shops and their facade should be made uniform. The Janpath Market in Delhi was given a facelift after the shops in the area were made part of the same complex. A similar solution needs to be found by the authorities concerned. The Administration and the civic body must learn as to how things are handled in the metropolitan city.

Jobanjit Singh Khaira, a resident

MC must work without any political interference

The MC should start working without any political interference and should remove encroachments without any fear. Better infrastructure is required in the city, including parking spaces and spaces for roadside vendors as well. The issue of encroachment has been resolved in the areas where chaupatis have been made. For example, the street vendors at Rani Jhansi Road were moved to a side after creation of chaupati. But better and more steps need to be taken to remove encroachments in the city.

Vijaypreet Singh, an advocate

Restore Chaura Bazaar to traditional market

Encroachments in the congested areas and old city areas such as Chaura Bazaar should be converted, renovated and turned into a clean area. Although Ludhiana has little to show in the name of tourism, the government must remove encroachments here and restore Chaura Bazaar to a traditional market. It’s proximity to railway station will help in terms of promoting tourism in the area to a larger extent. Encroachments present a very bad picture of the city and should be removed then and there, without any delay.

Sarabjit Singh, a resident

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Rotary Club celebrates Independence Day with 125 underprivileged children
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
The Rotary Club Greater Ludhiana organised a ‘Morning with underprivileged children’ today to celebrate Independence Day.

The president of the club, Amanpreet Singh Arora, said 125 children from a school for underprivileged children in Sunet were taken for a visit to a five-star hotel in the city.

The children were shown a documentary on how India got independence. The Indian National Flag was painted on the faces and hands of the kids. A quiz on Independence Day was also held and prizes were distributed to the winners.

The children were then shown a film followed by a dance programme. Special food, including tricolor sandwiches, pizza, fruits and ice creams were also served on the occasion. The club secretary, Dr Bharti Uppal, along with other members of the club, distributed gifts to the children.

Arora said the hotel visit had educational as well as entertainment purpose. “We wanted children to get acquainted with information on Independence Day and we also wanted them to have fun.”

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Patwaris hold protest against local court’s order
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Patwaries and kanungos of Ludhiana wore black badges to mark their protest against the punishment given by a local court of Faridkot to a patwari of Patwar Circle Gidderbaha-2, Baljinder Singh. He was earlier posted as Patwari in Patwar Circle Tehna, Faridkot, in 2004. The protest was held outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.

The protesting patwaries and kanungos maintained that Baljinder Singh obeyed the orders of his senior officer and acted as per law. He has not committed any crime, yet the local court gave him five years of punishment, said the protesters. They demanded that the Punjab government must ignore the orders of the court and should not take any action against Baljinder Singh.

If the needful is not done, the struggle will be intensified after making an announcement in the state-level meeting of the revenue officers on August 23, said the protesters, adding that the state government will be held responsible for the outcome.

After the protest, a memorandum was handed over to Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Rajat Aggarwal.

According to information, on July 18, a local court in Faridkot sentenced three persons, including SDM Ram Singh, to five years of imprisonment in a criminal case. The three had allegedly burnt down thirteen houses of poor dalit families in the Tehna Patwar circle of Faridkot in 2004. At the time of the incident, Ram Singh, Garhshankar SDM, was posted as tehsildar in Faridkot. The two others convicts are Baljinder Singh, a patwari, and Amarjit Singh, a former sarpanch. The complainant in the case was Tarsem Singh, a rickshaw puller.

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Members of spinners’ association air grievances
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
Continuing with its movement to get the Punjab spinners back on track, MM Vyas, president, Punjab Spinners Association, said memorandums are being sent to the local MLAs so as to apprise them of the problems being faced by spinners in state.

The memorandums will stress on the need of a level playing field in Punjab which is possible only when the VAT is reduced to 2 per cent or a ban is imposed on the imports through exemption certificate for not paying the advance tax or through some other suitable options which the government deems appropriate.

A drive to spread awareness about the problems being faced by the spinners of Punjab to the Prime Minister of India, Chief Minister of Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Minister of Industries and the Punjab and Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, will start from August 16.

Vyas said three office-bearers of the Punjab Spinners Association will act as a catalyst to augment the drive to send individual letters by employees of Punjab spinning mills to the concerned authorities. The letters will be sent by employees of the spinning mills, who have a probability of being associated with the loss of employment. On an average, 50,000 letters will be sent on a daily basis with effect from August 16, said Vyas. They will be explaining in their letters as to why spinners were requesting the government of Punjab to reduce the rate of VAT from 6 per cent to 2 per cent or why to ban the import of yarn into the state of Punjab through exemption certificate for not paying the advance tax. They will also be detailing in their letters as to how the tax disadvantage to the yarn spinners located in Punjab had further compounded the problems of spinners in Punjab as the power tariffs, wages and logistics costs in Punjab are already among the highest in the country.

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Trader alleges fraud of Rs 50 lakh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August11
A local trader alleged a fraud of Rs 50 lakh by a couple in land deal here today.

A resident of Janta Enclave, Dugri Road, Anil Bedi, alleged that a Phagwara-based businessman tricked him and a bank by preparing two forged registered papers of a property.

Bedi alleged that the police did not register a case even after one-and-a-half month and he even complained to the Commissioner of Police in this regard.

He claimed that instead of filing a case against the person, the police have been pressurising him for a compromise.

Bedi said a deal was made of a showroom in Shamsher Plaza at Ghumar Mandi in January, 2014, for Rs 2.25 crore. He gave Rs 50 lakh in advance and fixed a date, May 6, for registering the property on his name.

Bedi said the owner of the said property, Kiran Bhanot, wife of Rakesh Bhanot, told him that the property was mortgaged by a bank and asked Bedi to pay Rs 70 lakh to bank to get the possession of the property.

According to Anil, he asked Bhanot to provide him the original documents of property. While Rakesh Bhanot told him that the property was also mortgaged by another bank. Rakesh Bhanot said, “Bedi prepared forged papers. I told him earlier that the property is mortgaged by the bank. He did not appear to get the property registered on a fixed date. I have filed a court case against him.”

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police-3, Paramjit Singh Pannu, said, “I am not aware about the case as I joined office two days ago. I will look into the matter at the earliest.”

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Smartphone generation becomes smarter
City youths develop mobile apps of international level, bring city come alive on the IT world map
Gurvinder Singh
Tribune News Service

A youth develops mobile apps at a city-based company.
A youth develops mobile apps at a city-based company.

Ludhiana, August 11
Some of the city youngsters are making mobile apps for projects of international repute and importance, thereby, contributing to the IT industry and bringing the city come alive on the IT map of the world.

Whether it is the fun apps like InstaPunjabi, that allows users to add Punjabi touch to their photographs, or working on learning applications for Cambridge University, the youngsters are pegging away at programming and creating apps that are being used in different parts of the world.

A youth here is working on an app that will resolve tensions between individuals. The app is called Resolvogram. Chintan, a city youngster, said working on big projects enables us to get an exposure to the latest IT projects.”

“The youths are making apps, which are making the world a better place. They contribute to the IT industry in their own way while, getting trained and creating very innovative apps. And the best part is that we need not leave our city,” said Preet Chandhoke, COO, 01 Synergy.

Some of the city youngsters have developed mobile apps for Nigeria that enables people there to do live trading from mobile at the Nigerian Stock Exchange. They have also developed mobile app for the next state elections in the US. The mobile app would enable all the senators and campaigners to gather the data regarding each household that can be analysed in headquarters in real time and help formulate and change their strategy in real time. This app can help streamline campaign work, can help to get a real understanding of the issues of the people and formulate their campaign and political strategy. This would not only make election campaign better, but would have positive fallout on the governance and save money as well, says Chandhoke.

Another innovative app is the courier system app called Fetch that allows the users to act has couriers in the real time data.

Another app that they developed recently is about tracking system of the employees by the employers for a Canadian company. The employers can map exactly where the employees are and even enable the managers to know the exact location and the battery status of the cell phone of the employees, so that they don’t switch off their phone. 

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Folk songs mark Teej celebrations
Our Correspondent

Samrala, August 11
The jovial festival of Teej was celebrated with fervour at Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women, Jhar Sahib. Girl students recited bolian and performed giddha.

Folk songs sung by students made the occasion frolic. ‘Queen of folk’ Gurmeet Kaur Bawa enchanted the audience with her mellifluous voice. The MD, Sunny Enclave, Kharar; Chairperson, Punjab State Women Commission, Paramjeet Kaur Landran and Satwant Kaur Johal, member, Punjab State Women Commission, were among the dignitaries present.

Jagjiwen Singh Khirnian, former MLA, Samrala; Avtar Singh Ria, member, SGPC, were among others present.

Girls dressed up in colourful attires visited various stalls put up at the venue. An exhibition captured the attention of all and one. Competitions like mehndi, embroidery and rangoli-making were held in which Harashdeep Kaur, Gurdeep Kaur and Parminder Kaur won the first positions respectively.

College principal Paramjeet Kaur Tiwana thanked all dignitaries and exhorted girls to save the Punjabi culture.

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Students showcase talent at programme
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, August 11
The Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, near here organised a talent hunt programme in order to provide an opportunity to new students to exhibit their talent.

The students took part in various events such as shabad gayan, song singing, folk song, skit, dance, debate, elocution and giddha on the occasion.

‘Bajigarnia Da Giddha’ was the major attraction. Students participated in the function with enthusiasm. Besides, competitions of fine arts, heritage Items, installation and creative writing were also organised. The members of the CSA were also introduced in the talent hunt function.

While taking up charges of their duties, all members pledged to work sincerely for the betterment of the college.

Later, students who bagged top positions in the university examinations and annual college examinations were honoured by college principal Paramjit Kaur. In her address, the principal eulogised the students for taking part in various activities and congratulated the academic prize winners. She also motivated the students to inculcate good values in themselves so that they become good human beings.

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construction of indoor stadium
Second phase to cost around Rs 40.63 crores

Ludhiana, August 11
Higher-ups held a meeting to discuss the second phase of construction of the Indoor Stadium at Pakhowal Road that is hanging in balance due to the paucity of funds. The meeting was attended by the Technical Secretary to the Chief Minister, Punjab, VK Bhat.

Besides the chief engineers associated with the project and higher-ups from the Municipal Corporation also had a detailed meeting on the issue. The officials also visited the entire stadium to get a view of the building.

According to the civic body, the second phase would cost around Rs 40.63 crores. According to information, about Rs 6.50 crores had been deposited by the Sports Department with the civic body. The officials said the remaining amount will be arranged through HUDCO. The work will be allotted to the bidder who will be successfully qualified and the tenders will be scrutinised by the Tender Scrutiny Committee. It has been more than a decade, but the completion of the stadium is yet to see the light of the day. — TNS

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High drama at jewellery showroom
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
High drama was witnessed at a jewellery showroom at Fountain Chowk this evening. A number of people, who invested money in the kitty scheme of the jeweller, started protesting against the showroom owner.

According to information, people who invested money in the kitty scheme came to the showroom to get their money back as the Reserve Bank of India had disallowed such schemes. The protesters said the staff at the jewellery showroom denied to return their money and asked them to take gold instead of money.

Later, the police intervened in the matter and resolved the issue. Rajwinder Singh, manager at the jewellery showroom, said: “We did not refuse anyone to return their money. We only demanded identity proof from them for the same. People who did not carry identity proof started protesting. We pacified them and later, the issue was sorted out.”

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college notes
Programme on financial literacy

The Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology organised a programme on “Financial Awareness and Literacy for Teaching Faculty”. NK Bansal, counsellor at Disha, which is a social initiative of the ICICI Bank Ltd to assist customers of banking services, was the keynote speaker. Bansal said financial literacy was the need of the hour. As financial markets have become increasingly complex, it had become difficult for common people to make informed choices, he said. Bansal spoke on various topics like ATM, credit/debit cards, power of compounding in building wealth, nomination and will, cybercrimes, online shopping, CIBIL-Credit Information Bureau of India. Prof VK Chadha proposed the vote of thanks.

College gets nod for diploma programme

The University Grants Commission and Panjab University Chandigarh have given approval to the SCD Government College, Ludhiana, to start course under the Community College Scheme of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. The college has been given approval and affiliation to start the Diploma in Stock Market and Trading Operations – a one-year diploma under the semester system in association with the Ludhiana Stock Exchange. Students who have passed minimum Class XII examination in any stream with 45 per cent marks or more will be eligible for the diploma programme. The college has fixed a deadline to apply for the programme till August 18, 2014, and the counselling for the diploma will be held on August 20. The programme is the dream project of the Department of Higher Education, Punjab, and is monitored by a high-power committee of the Directorate of Higher Education, Punjab. Principal of the college Dharam Singh Sandhu, said the college would make efforts to provide placement facilities to students to get placements in various agencies. He said SCD Government College was the first college in the state to start programmes under the Community College scheme.

Over 100 students get placements

Over 100 students of the Bhutta College of Engineering and Technology, Bhutta village, received executive placement letters from multinational companies. The placement letters were given as a part of the agreement made with the college under the Elite Engineering Programme. Former minister of the Punjab Government and managing director of these multinational companies had agreed to leverage their core strength in the IT Industry and education, respectively, offering ELITE certifications. Main objective of the scheme was to develop and focus on enhancing the academic, professional, personal and skill development of students to meet the changing aspirations of the corporate sector. Students of the college get the ‘Elite’ certificates in Information Technologies, Web Programming and Application Development. Representing group of MNCs, Brigadier Zora Singh Dhaliwal exhorted students to adopt positive attitude to gain success in life. —TNS

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pau notes
Scientist’s Centre inaugurated

Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Baldev Singh Dhillon inaugurated the “International Scientist’s Centre” on the campus on Monday. All senior officials of the PAU were among those present. Dr Dhillon appreciated the efforts of Dr Jaspal Singh, Chief Engineer, and his entire team in setting up the centre. He said the International Scientist’s Centre had a good location and would be highly advantageous for international meetings. Dr Dhillon also planted a sapling of ‘Kachnar’ tree outside the centre and laid emphasis on the beautification of the surroundings.

Earlier, Dr Jaspal welcomed all the Deans, directors, additional directors and other officials to the programme. He said the construction work of the centre had commenced in 2010. He said: “We feel proud and motivated under the stewardship of Dr Dhillon.” All Deans and directors also planted saplings of ‘Kachnar’ and Gulmohar trees, outside the centre. Dr JS Mahal, estate officer, PAU, proposed the vote of thanks. — TNS

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school notes
Debate on cleanliness

The mass media department of BCM Arya Model School, Shastri Nagar, organised a parliamentary debate on the issue of “Poor condition of cleanliness system in Ludhiana”. During the debate, students raised some critical issues like Buddha Nullah, traffic problem, dumping grounds, role of Municipal Corporation and others. The students came up with many logical and valid solutions to the issues. Talking about the event, Dr Paramjit Kaur, Principal of the school, said: “This is a good initiative by the school. Such events would not only impart moral values in students but also help in creating more and more young leaders for the country.

Teej celebrated

Teej was celebrated at BCM School, Dugri. A function organised by the Punjabi department highlighted the Punjabi culture. Teachers were dressed up in traditional Punjabi attires. Giddha performance and Miss Teej competition were also organised.

Declamation contest

An inter-section Hindi and English declamation competition was held on social issues at BCM School, Dugri. The winners were awarded with certificates.

Raksha Bandhan celebrated

MGM Public School celebarated Raksha Bandhan. Rakhi-making and thali decoration competitions were organised among all students. At Great Mother Model School, Kakowal, a rakhi- making competition was organised. — TNS

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ludhiana scan
Plywood manufacturers hold meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s vision will uplift the real estate business overall and with it, the industry of plywood, plyboard and all allied goods will improve. This was stated by Ashok Kumar Juneja, chairman of the Punjab Plywood Manufacturers’ Association, and Inderjit Singh Sohal, president of the association, during a meeting with members of the association. They said till date the plywood industry was under great stress due to imposition of heavy taxes and regular intervention of departments, including Excise and Taxation, Labour, Property Tax, Pollution Board, Income Tax. The industry was burdened with heavy taxes. “But we are requesting Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister, to exempt the excise duty on plywood units,” said Juneja. The members also urged upon farmers and growers to plant more and more trees in the forthcoming plantation season. Ranbir Singh Sidhu, president, Tree Growers Association, said Punjab should also start exporting ply and boards to Pakistan and Afganistan at less transportation charges.

Traders protest

Several trade unions, under the banner of Kala Kanun Virodhi Sanjha Morcha, protested against the Damage to Public and Private Property Act on Monday. They submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner and demanded that this Act should be abolished in the welfare of the general public. The representatives said India was a democratic country and every one had the right to express feelings in a free manner but this Act was implemented in an autocratic manner to suppress the public.

Training camp

A Gurmat training camp for making Sikhs aware of their duties and rights towards the religion, is being held at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Pehalgam, Kashmir, from August 17 to 19. The camp will be organized by the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta). Paramjit Singh Khalsa, president of the federation, said dignitaries from across Punjab and Delhi, including Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Malh Singh, Harnam Singh Khalsa, Narinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Jaspal Singh, will be reaching at the camp.

Minister assures relief

The case of a patient, who slipped into coma due to alleged negligence of a doctor here, reached the Union Health Minister Harshvardhan. The minister realised the seriousness of the case and ensured that a team of eminent doctors would take care of the patient and if need arises, the case would be handed over to the CBI for further action. The case was forwarded by former Health Minister, Punjab, Satpal Gossian.

Free eye camps

The Samrala administration will organise free eye check-up camps at Samrala and Machiwara in view of the Independence Day. Stating about it, SDM, Samrala, Anuprita Johl, gave information that on August 12 one such camp would be held at Bazigar Basti Samrala, near ITI, Samrala, and on August 13 another camp will be held at Indira Colony, Macchiwara. The SDM gave information that trained doctors will examine the eyes of patients during the camp.

Karamchari sangh’s meeting

A meeting of Nagar Nigam Karamchari Sangh was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Dr DP Khosla. Members condemned the “pick and choose” policy of officials in the Civic Body in providing jobs to the kin on compassionate grounds. Khosla said 27 cases had been cleared, unfortunately the pending cases before 2012 were not taken into consideration by officials. Due to this attitude, there was unrest amongst the kin of other deceased, said Dr Khosla.

Pensioners flay Centre

A meeting of the Railway Pensioners Welfare Association, Ludhiana, was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Bhajneek Singh. All members condemned the Central government against allowing the FDI in railways and defence departments. The members also showed their anguish against the Punjab Government by enforcing the Draconian Law of 2014 to harm the government and personnel property Act. The association supports Punjab Government employees for their demands. On the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, eight nodal centers have started giving coaching to the candidates who have cleared physical test for the recruitment of the Army and were scheduled to appear in the written test. These candidates will appear in the written test on August 30. -— TNS

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Youth held for snatching
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 11
The police has booked three persons in two separate cases. Prabhdeep Singh of Barnala has been arrested for snatching a gold chain from a woman.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amargarh, Gurmit Singh, said officials of the city police, led by Avtar Singh, had nabbed Prabhdeep when he was trying to escape after snatching a gold chain from a woman.

Investigations revealed that the accused had threatened her at point of a sharp-edged knife and snatched her gold chain worth Rs 30,000 at the local Civil Hospital.

The youth had followed her to a deserted place inside the hospital complex when she went to drink water there.

The police arrested the accused with the help of the passers-by when he was trying to run away with the booty.

In another incident, Randhir Singh and Ninder Kaur of Kup Khurad village were booked under Sections 323, 325 and 34 of the IPC for allegedly assaulting Harbans Kaur of the same village.

Harbans Kaur alleged that the accused had intercepted her and beaten her when she was on the way to bring fodder for her cattle from the fields.

Investigating officer Harnek Singh Ghuman said cases had been registered after verifying allegations levelled by the complainants.

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Complete challan assessment by Dec, HC to civic body
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked officials of the Municipal Corporation to complete the assessment of challans till date by December 5.

The set date is also the next hearing of the case, PC Basli vs the state of Punjab on the pending assessment of challans in the Municipal Corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Besides, the court has asked the civic bodies to follow proper Challan Management System.

Adhering to the High Court’s previous orders, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation had completed the assessment of challans from 2008 to 2012, which was lying pending for long. Over 3,500 challans were assessed by the officials in the recent times as the court was asked to complete the assessment process and start with recoveries. Though the MC had claimed to send notices to defaulters within 2-3 days but, transfers of officials/employees have put everything to halt for the time being.

The Assistant Town Planner (headquarters), Kamaljit Kaur, said in few days, the work will be streamlined in all the four zones and recoveries will soon be made from all the four zones.

As per the available data with the Building Branch from 2012-2014, assessment of more than 2,500 challans was still pending with the department. Maximum challans to the tune of 971 are pending with Zone D while, 840 are pending with Zone A, 371 with Zone B and assessment of 363 challans is pending with Zone C. Recoveries worth crores are pending from these challans.

An inspector with the Building Branch, on the condition of anonymity, said many recoveries were pending for over a decade. “Whenever the recoveries are made, the financially starved Municipal Corporation will heave a sigh of relief,” said the inspector, adding that the process of recoveries was too slow in the civic body.

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Arnam, Lakshya corner glory in badminton meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 11
Arnam Jain and Lakshya Sharma from Ludhiana hogged limelight in the Punjab State Sub-Junior Championship-2014 held from August 6 to10 at Moga.

Arnam Jain, a student of Class V of Sat Paul Mittal School, Dugri, played against Lakshay Sharma, a student of Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, whom he overpowered 21-9, 21-12 to win the title in the boys’ singles category (U-10).

Later, in the same category, duo Arnam and Lakshya got the better of Jalandhar players Ronin Mukherjee and Harsh Khanna to bag the doubles title. Ludhiana duo wrapped up the first set 21-8 and faced some resistance in the next one. However, they won the match 21-13 and claimed the title. Lakshya completed a hat-trick winning title in the doubles’ category for the third consecutive year.

Both trainees of the national badminton coach, Mangat Rai Sharma, had brought laurels to the city earlier as well when they won the titles in an international badminton tournament in Germany two months ago.

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